Volunteers Needed To Test New Laguna Beach Local Transit

LAGUNA BEACH, CA—Last Monday, the city began testing its new on-demand residential transit service. The Laguna Beach Local is a free, shared-ride service of plug-in hybrid minivans. The latest eco-friendly fleet will travel along the three former neighborhood trolley routes: Top of the World, Bluebird Canyon and Arch Beach Heights, and as well as in Downtown.

In addition to the original trolley stops, approximately 75 new “virtual stops” have been added for easy access and convenience.

Any volunteers who'd like to help test the service over the next several weeks should email the transit department. Include your name, mobile number and email address. The first 150 residents to respond will be placed into the test-user group. Ride-requesting instructions will soon follow.

Destinations can be local businesses, restaurants, retailers, government services, jobs and non-emergency medical care. You can request a ride when you want it, and the small, hybrid-electric vehicles accommodating up to 7 passengers will pick you up.

The minivans are clearly marked with the Laguna Beach Local logo and are numbered to ensure you are boarding the correct one.

The vans are wheelchair accessible and can accommodate two standard-sized bicycles. Just be sure to tap the wheelchair or bicycle icon, as appropriate, when booking your ride on the app.

Surfboards cannot be accommodated at this time.

If you already have the Trolley Tracker app on your phone, go to External Links in the menu to access Laguna Beach Local info and to download the on-demand app.

If residents prefer not to use the app, they will be able to request a ride via home computer, by calling the transit dispatcher at (949) 497-0766. Once your pickup is scheduled, you will then be able to request a return ride.

Here are the hours:

• Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Friday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday: No service

The Laguna Beach Local is aiming for an average wait time of 15-20 minutes following ride request. Rides may be requested up to seven days in advance. Children under age 13 must be accompanied by an adult, and all caregivers must bring child seats, as needed.

The on-demand app will also display trolley status info, making transfers to the coastal routes a breeze.

Here's the recap:

Once you've downloaded the TransLoc app, search for "Laguna Beach Local."

Rides can also be booked by calling transit dispatch at (949) 497-0766 during operating hours, or by visiting on-demand transloc on your home computer

Check out the city's Frequently Asked Questions for more on the new Laguna Beach Local.